Quick answer: How do I start a daycare in Texas?
To start a daycare in Texas, you get a permit from Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Child Care Regulation (CCR). The permit depends on your setup: a listing for up to three unrelated children, a registration for up to six children plus six school-age children after school, or a license for a licensed child care home (7 to 12 children) or a child care center. Licensed and registered applicants attend an orientation first, the application fee is $35 ($20 for a listed home), and CCR must decide within two months after it accepts your application.
In this guide
Texas daycare permits at a glance
| Permit | Who it covers | Minimum age to apply | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing: Listed Family Home | Up to 3 unrelated children, in the caregiver's home | 18 | Only after a complaint or report |
| Registration: Registered Child Care Home | Up to 6 unrelated children during school hours plus 6 school-age children after school, no more than 12 in care at once, in the caregiver's home | 21 | At least one unannounced inspection every one to two years |
| License: Licensed Child Care Home | 7 to 12 children total, including the caregiver's own, in the caregiver's home | 21 | At least one unannounced inspection per year |
| License: Licensed Child Care Center | 7 or more children younger than 14, in a location other than the permit holder's home | Director must be 21 | Monitoring inspections by CCR |
Sources: HHS: Become a Child Care Home Provider, HHS: Become a Child Care Center-Based Provider and the CCR Handbook, 2100 Types of Child Care Permits. Before-or-after-school programs and school-age programs are also licensed by CCR.
Do I need a childcare license in Texas?
Yes, in most cases. Texas Health and Human Services regulates child care, which it defines as caring for, supervising, training or educating an unrelated child or children age 13 or younger for less than 24 hours a day, in a place other than the child's own home. Depending on how many children you serve and where, you apply for one of the permits above. Source: HHS.
Home-based care
Home-based providers apply for a listing, a registration or a license based on the number of children they care for. Registered and listed homes provide care at least four hours a day, and licensed homes at least two hours, three or more days a week. For registered and licensed homes, the caregiver's own children count toward the 12-child limit.
Child care centers
If you care for seven or more children outside your home, you need a license for a child care center. Before-or-after-school programs and school-age programs are separate license types.
You may be exempt if you care only for your own or related children. HHS keeps a list of CCR licensing exemptions. Licensing also helps families trust that your program meets state health and safety standards.
Childcare Licensing and Compliance Checklist
Download this free checklist to simplify the childcare licensing process.
What are the childcare licensing requirements in Texas?
Requirements for home-based programs
- Be at least 21 years old to apply for a registration or license, or at least 18 to apply for a listing.
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent (required for registered and licensed homes).
- As the primary caregiver of a licensed home, also meet the requirements for a child day care director, which combine education and experience in a licensed or registered setting.
- Attend an orientation (pre-application interview) before you apply for a license or registration. For a registration or licensed home, your certificate of completion must be dated within one year before you apply.
- Pass background checks. They are required before anyone provides direct care or has direct access to children.
- Hold current pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR certificates as the primary caregiver, in place before CCR registers or licenses your home. The CPR course must follow American Heart Association layperson guidelines and include hands-on skills testing, though the instruction can be blended with online learning.
- Show proof of training in required topics (for a licensed home), such as child abuse prevention and reporting, safe sleep, emergency preparedness and medication administration, plus a tuberculosis record if your local health authority requires one.
- Provide proof of liability insurance before CCR issues a permit. Homeowner's insurance does not cover losses from your child care business.
- Meet local zoning, building, and homeowner association rules, which CCR does not enforce but you may need before local fire and sanitation inspections.
Sources: HHS home provider page, CCR Handbook 3211, Chapter 747 minimum standards (PDF) (§747.1107 and §747.1313) and the Texas Child Care Connection guide for new child care businesses.
Requirements for child care centers
- Attend an orientation class, then submit your application packet to your local CCR office: Form 2910 (application), Form 2948 (plan of operation), Form 2911 (governing body and director designation) and Form 2760 (controlling person).
- Designate a qualified director. Directors must be at least 21 with a high school diploma or equivalent plus an approved combination of education and experience. See HHS: Become a Child Day Care Director.
- Complete background checks for the people the rules require, such as staff and controlling persons.
- Provide proof of liability insurance before CCR issues a permit.
- Pass the application inspection to show your facility meets minimum standards.
- Meet staff-to-child ratios and group sizes (see the table below).
Sources: HHS center-based provider page and Chapter 746 minimum standards (PDF).
Texas center staff-to-child ratios
| Age of children in the group | Children per caregiver | Maximum group size |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 11 months | 4 | 10 |
| 12 to 17 months | 5 | 13 |
| 18 to 23 months | 9 | 18 |
| 2 years | 11 | 22 |
| 3 years | 15 | 30 |
| 4 years | 18 | 35 |
| 5 years | 22 | 35 |
| 6 to 8 years | 26 | 35 |
| 9 to 13 years | 26 | 35 |
Source: HHS Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers (Chapter 746). The ratio is based on the specified age of the children in the group. Centers licensed for 12 or fewer children follow separate rules in the same chapter, and home ratios are in Chapter 747.
How do I apply for a childcare license in Texas?
How to apply for a home-based permit
- Learn the permit types. Decide whether you need a listing, registration or license.
- Attend a child care home orientation. You receive an information packet with the forms and your local CCR contact. Find your local office on the HHS contact page.
- Create a CCR online account. On the CCR account page, answer "No" when asked whether you have a permit number, then activate your account from the confirmation email.
- Submit your online application. After you submit the eApplication, a CCR representative contacts you within a few business days with your operation number. Do not pay fees until CCR sends your invoice. Find the paperwork on the home provider application forms page.
- Pass the inspection. CCR inspects your home before issuing a permit.
How to apply for a center license
- Attend a licensed center orientation class.
- Review the minimum standards. Make sure your space meets zoning, building, fire and health requirements.
- Submit your application packet. Send the application forms and fee to your local CCR office.
- Create your provider account. Once CCR accepts your application and gives you an operation number, complete online registration through the CCR account page.
- Pass the application inspection. CCR issues an initial license after your operation shows compliance.
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CCR must decide whether to issue a permit within two months after it accepts your application. Source: CCR Handbook 3410.
Comparing states? See brightwheel's childcare licensing requirements by state, plus guides for Texas childcare centers, large family child care homes and small family child care homes.
How much does a daycare license cost in Texas?
Texas charges fees for processing applications, issuing permits and running background checks, plus an annual fee on the anniversary of your permit.
| Fee | Licensed center or licensed home | Registered home | Listed home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application | $35 | $35 | $20 |
| Initial license | $35 | N/A | N/A |
| Initial license renewal | $35 | N/A | N/A |
| Full license | $35 + $1 per child of capacity | N/A | N/A |
| Annual fee | $35 + $1 per child of capacity | $35 | $20 |
| Background check | $2 per background check | ||
| Capacity increase | $1 per child of added capacity | N/A | N/A |
For example, a center licensed for 50 children would pay $85 for its full license and $85 each year after (calculated from the fee schedule). The application fee is not refundable. Source: CCR Handbook 5200, Fees. Fees can change, so check the page before you pay.
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How do I stay compliant after I'm licensed?
- Move from an initial to a full license. New licensed operations start with an initial license valid for six months. CCR can renew it for up to six more months, up to one year total, and issues a full license once you show compliance with minimum standards.
- Renew your full license. According to HHS, a full license stays in effect as long as you renew it every two years and CCR takes no adverse action.
- Pay your annual fee. It is due each year on the anniversary of your permit, and CCR sends the invoice about 35 days before.
- Expect inspections. Licensed homes get at least one unannounced inspection a year, registered homes every one to two years, and listed homes only when CCR receives a report.
- Keep certifications and background checks current. Background checks are repeated on a recurring basis. Primary caregivers, substitutes and assistants must all keep pediatric first aid and CPR current, and assistant caregivers have 90 days from hire to get certified.
- Complete annual training. A primary caregiver needs at least 30 clock hours of training each year, including at least six hours from instructor-led training.
- Know your compliance history is public. CCR posts it on the Search Texas Child Care website.
Sources: HHS Permit and Issuance FAQ, CCR Handbook 3410, HHS home provider page and CCR Handbook 5200.
Writing a daycare business plan and using child care marketing strategies will help you fill your enrollment once you are permitted. Brightwheel's childcare management software keeps attendance, billing and staff records in one place.
Funding and grants for Texas childcare providers
Grants do not need to be repaid and can help cover facility improvements, equipment or staff development. Availability changes, so see current grants for childcare providers in Texas. You can also serve families through the Child Care Services (CCS) program, which offers scholarships to help eligible families pay for child care. Learn how to apply on the Texas Child Care Connection CCS page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a childcare license in Texas?
Texas charges a $35 application fee for licensed child care homes, licensed child care centers and registered child care homes, and $20 for listed family homes. Licensed operations also pay a $35 initial license fee and a full license fee of $35 plus $1 per child of capacity. Annual fees after that are $35 plus $1 per child of capacity for licensed operations, $35 for registered homes and $20 for listed homes. Each background check costs $2.
Can I start a daycare in Texas without a license?
No. Texas requires a listing, registration or license to care for unrelated children, with limited exceptions. HHS regulates care of unrelated children, so caring only for your own or related children is generally outside licensing. HHS also publishes a list of licensing exemptions.
How long does the licensing process take in Texas?
Texas Child Care Regulation must decide whether to issue a permit within two months after it accepts your application. Your total timeline is longer because you also complete orientation, assemble your application packet, get a facility ready for inspection and pass background checks first.
What are the staff-to-child ratios for Texas child care centers?
For centers licensed for 13 or more children, one caregiver may supervise 4 children ages 0 to 11 months, 5 children ages 12 to 17 months, 9 children ages 18 to 23 months, 11 two-year-olds, 15 three-year-olds, 18 four-year-olds, 22 five-year-olds and 26 children ages 6 to 13. Each age group also has a maximum group size.
Do I have to attend an orientation before I apply for a daycare license in Texas?
Yes for a license or registration. Texas requires a pre-application interview, also called an orientation, for those applicants. For a registration or a licensed home, you need a certificate of completion dated within one year before you apply. Applicants for a listing may attend but are not required to.
How long does a Texas child care license last?
A new licensed operation first receives an initial license valid for six months, which CCR can renew for up to six more months (one year maximum), then a full license once it shows compliance. According to Texas Health and Human Services, a full license stays in effect as long as you renew it every two years and no adverse action is taken against the operation. You also pay an annual fee on the anniversary of the permit.
Final thoughts
Starting a childcare program takes careful planning, especially around Texas's permit types and ratios. Designed with new childcare programs in mind, brightwheel's software streamlines operations, improves communication and supports your program's growth from day one, and you can begin setting it up before you open.
